Speeding & Traffic

Some times getting a traffic ticket isn’t a big deal. You sign the back, pay a fine and it’s over with. However, all too often the guilty plea and fine are only the beginning of a costly experience. If the ticket was for a “moving violation” such as speeding, failure to obey a traffic signal or sign, failing to maintain lane, etc., the guilty plea is reported to the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles where it becomes part of a driver’s record. Each violation has a statutorily prescribed “point” value that stays on a driver’s record for 18 months. Speeding tickets have a minimum “point” value of 3 and a potential maximum of 11. If a driver’s point total reaches 11 or more points a mandatory mandatory 31 days suspension (for first time suspensions) will be imposed unless the driver asks for a “license suspension hearing”. At such a hearing a driver can dispute the accuracy of the DMV’s records but, unless some problem in record keeping has occurred the typical result is that driving privileges will be suspended for anywhere from 31 days to one year. If a driver accumulates more than 6 points in any 18 month period a special surcharge of $150/year can be imposed by the DMV. Also, if you are convicted of 3 separate speeding violations that occurred within 18 months your license must be suspended for 6 months. To see a complete chart of how many points each type of violation incurs, click here

The DMV record is also checked by automobile insurance companies every time auto insurance comes up for renewal or a new application for insurance is made. A moving violation on a driver’s record virtually guarantees an increase in insurance rates. Depending upon how many points have accumulated the increase in rates can be dramatic, sometimes as much as twice the previous rate. Moreover, if enough points have accumulated an insurance company may refuse to renew or decline to provide a new policy. In those cases a driver will be forced to obtain insurance through the NYS “assigned risk” pool. Insurance rates in the assigned risk pool are very, very high.

When Should I Hire An Attorney?

Many drivers facing serious moving violations find that obtaining legal representation is essential to protecting their rights and obtaining the most favorable result from court proceedings. Often an attorney will be able to negotiate a reduced charge, sometimes eliminating the charges that have “points” associated with them. Sometimes the ticket itself may be flawed and an attorney can get the charges dismissed based up a flawed complaint by the officer that issued the ticket.

Also, if you don’t live near the court that the ticket specifies you can have an attorney make an appearance for you, so that you don’t have to attend the court proceedings at all. For information about fees to be represented by the Law Offices of Glenn W. Magnell click here. For a free, no obligation case review and fee quotation click here.

Why Should You Consider Our Law Firm to represent you?

Retaining a qualified attorney to deal with your traffic ticket can be a confusing affair. Fees can vary from a a couple of hundred dollars to a couple of thousand and exactly what one attorney or another will do when they represent you can vary just as much. If you contact our firm you can expect:

* You can speak directly to an attorney about the circumstances surrounding your ticket
* Upon receipt of a copy of your ticket, it will immediately be reviewed by an attorney
* We will provide you with a realistic assessment of what can be accomplished
* We will obtain your NYS DMV driving record so that we can intelligently advise you regarding your case
* We will quickly communicate with the court involved and let them know we represent you
* We will copy you on all communication with the court and/or the officer involved
* We will promptly provide you with the necessary paperwork so that you do not have to appear in court and we can appear for you
* We will make sure that we can provide a documented paper trail for all critical communications with the court
* If necessary we will file whatever motions we think may be needed to achieve the best possible result for you
* We will contact you shortly before we go to court on your case to review the details and strategies we are using
* The day before we go to court we will run your DMV record so that we can bring up to date information to court in order to obtain the best possible results
* If necessary we will represent you at trial, however in some cases there may be an extra charge for trial representation.
* The only fees you will pay will be stated clearly, up front
* Within 24 hours of appearing in court for you we will advise you of the final outcome of your violation
* Within a matter of days after the court proceedings you will receive a written (emailed) summary of the outcome

NYS TRAFFIC LAW AND DWI LAWYER

OUR PROFESSIONALS

The Magnell Law Office was established by attorney Glenn W. Magnell in 2005 in Goshen, New York. Magnell Law is a boutique law firm focused on providing defense services across a broad range of criminal, traffic and transportation law offenses.